SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury University women's basketball team was victorious in its first Capital Athletic Conference game of the season, defeating St. Mary's College of Maryland, 70-52, at Maggs Physical Activities Center on Wednesday night.

The Sea Gulls jumped out to an 8-2 lead, with juniors, guard Sarah Seipp and forward Melanie Mocniak, each scoring four points in the opening minutes.

After St. Mary's tied the score at 8-8, Seipp made a layup to give SU (4-2, 1-0 CAC) the lead, which the Sea Gulls would hold for the rest of the game. The Seahawks kept the lead close for the next few minutes, but with a one-point lead, junior guard Courtney McManus would drain her first of five three-pointers to spark a 21-7 run that ended the half; McManus led the Gulls with a season-high 15 points, while tying a career high with the five three-pointers.

In the final stretch, McManus would add another three, while junior guard Anna Hackett netted seven points, including a three, to lead the team during the spurt. The Sea Gulls went into the half leading 35-20.

McManus stayed hot, starting the second half with two-straight from behind the arc in a 6-2 run to open Salisbury's lead to 41-22.

The Gulls continued to keep the offense going, pushing their lead over the 20-point mark, 50-28, as Seipp added five more points on a jumper, a layup and a free throw, and Hackett and Mocniak both added scores. Salisbury was able to keep the commanding lead through the rest of the half, reaching its largest advantage at 26 points, 65-39, after two free throws by junior forward Aleisha Hobbs.

The Sea Gulls' final bucket came on a jumper by freshman Kristin Yuan, for the first points of her collegiate career; she finished the game with two rebounds and a steal, as well.

Hackett and Seipp both finished in double-figures behind McManus, with 13 and 11 points, respectively, while Hackett led the squad with nine assists. Five Sea Gulls tied for the team high in rebounds, with four each.

Salisbury will play host to Southern Virginia University in its next game on Saturday; the contest is set for 1 p.m., at Maggs PAC.